The NBA released the Most Improved Player of the Year results Monday, and an Oklahoma City Thunder player made the list.
Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished sixth in the voting.
He nearly doubled his scoring average and did double his rebounding, going from 10.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game as a rookie and 19.0 points and 5.9 rebounds as a second-year player.
Many voters prefer to not vote for second-year players, as they are expected to improve from year one to year two. Gilgeous-Alexander did this to a level that most don’t, though, and did it both on the stat sheet and from the eye test: After looking like a good player a rookie, he now looks to be a surefire future All-Star.
Full voting results for Most Improved Player below.
My ballot:
Luka Doncic
Brandon Ingram
Jayson Tatum pic.twitter.com/mfkHuGsaMm— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) August 31, 2020
Gilgeous-Alexander did not get any first-place votes, but five people voted him for second and six for third.
New Orleans Pelicans wing Brandon Ingram won the award with 42 first-place votes. He was followed by Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, who had 38.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic was in third place after picking up 12 first-place votes. He was the only other player to earn more than three first-place votes.
Boston Celtics wing Jayson Tatum finished fourth and Charlotte Hornets guard Devonte’ Graham finished fifth.
